Automobile heating system



Nov .-l'1,1l941. I -l-LJQDESN. McoLLuM A v2,262,028

AUTOMOBILE HEATING SYSTEM Filed July s1., 19:59 La sheets-sheet 1 'NOV- 1l l94l H. J. DE McccLLuM 2,262,028

'AUTOMOBILE HEATINGSYS'TEM Filed July :51; 1 939 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nev. 11., 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,262,028 AUTOMOBILE HEATING SYSTEM Henry J. De N. McCollum, Evanston, lll.

^ 9 Claims.

My invention relates generally to heating systems for automobiles, and more particularly to a heating system in whichl the heat is obtained from the radiatorformingpart of the engine cooling system.

It-is an object of my invention to' provide a heater for the passenger compartment of an automobile, which may be inexpensively manufactured and easily installed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hot air heating system for the passenger compartment of an automobile which may be installed as factory equipment to form a permanent part of the automobile and which is provided with adjustable means 'whereby' the rate of flow of heated air to the passenger `compartment may be readily controlled.

A further `object isto provide an improved heating system for the passenger compartment of an automobile in which the rate of heat transferred from the water circulating in the cooling system of the engine may be increased by providing a separate radiator section with thermos Application July 31,l 1939, Serial No. 287,555

(Cl. l23T-12.3)

tubes 22 forming part of the radiator core and which are surrounded by the usual fins 26.

'I'he entire width of the upper section of the radiator has its rear surface covered by a rectangular casing 28 so lthat all of the air flowing through this upper sectionof the radiator flows into the casing and thence through a pair'of conduits 30, 3|. 'I'he conduit 30 extends vfrom the casing through the dash 32 which divides the engine compartment 34 from the passenger compartment 36. Within the passenger compartment, and secured to the instrument panel 38 is a control button 40 which is connected by a Bowden or similar control Wire 42 with a butterfly valve 44 so as to control the rate of iiow of air through the conduit 30. The pipe or conduit 3| is preferably joined to the conduit 30 by an elbow or Y fitting 46, although if desired both statically controlled means to maintain the sec- Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken.

on the line 2.-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view ofan automobile heating system illustrating a modiiied form -of my invention;

Figure 4 isa fragmentary sectional v iew taken l on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; andv Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the simple form of my invention disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, the passenger'compartment is heated by iiow thereinto ofair from outside the vehicle 'through the upper portion of the radiator which forms part of the engine. cooling system. Thus in these figures the radiator I0 which may be of any'convenient construction connected inthe engine cooling system in the usual manner by means of hoses I2 and I4 through which the water is circulated by water pump I6. The water heated by the engine I8 flows upwardly through the pipe I2 into a tank or header 20 and ows downwardly core which, as most radiators are constructed contains the hottest water, `is utilized as a heat exchange device forheating a supply of fresh air for the passenger compartment of the vehicle. I his portion of the radiator thus serves the dual purpose of` cooling the water in the engine cooling system and of heating the air supplied to the passenger compartment.

The circulation of air'through the upper section of the radiator and vthrough the conduits 38 and 3| is caused primarily by the motion of the automobile, since the usual radiator fan is not effective to aid 'in causing such flow. Since the` differential pressure between the forward end of the radiator and the interior of the passenger compartment is usually not very great, the rate of iiowv through the conduits 30 and 3| will not b e excessive, and the air, in its relatively slow flow through the-.upper section of the radiator core, will be heated substantially to the temperature of the water entering the radiator.

In Figs. a, 4 and 5 is illustrated a modined form4 of the invention, in which provision is made for `gnaintaining the water in the upper section of the radiator at the maximum temperature compatable with eilicient engine operation. In this veniently clamped in open position.

2 the butterfly valve 44 for controlling the flow of air to the passenger compartment may be sim- A ilar to the corresponding parts previously described, and similar reference characters have the header or tank 20 and thence downwardlythrough the tubes in the coreI 54 to the header 58. As best shown in Fig. 5, the header 58 is provided with a bellows or Sylphon 62 which .is

mounted in a suitable frame 64 which projects into the header 58. The Sylphon 62 contains a suitable volatile liquid o r mixture: of volatile liquids such as alcohol and ether, so thatit will expand when a predetermined high temperature pressure due to expansion in the lower V core 58 is Y `notrelieved through the usual. overflow pipe, an additional overflow pipe 89 is preferably provided this reason the radiator cap'82 should be of such4 construction that it forms a water tightseal. f

is'attained. For example, it may be constructed so as to expand rapidly when heated to a temperature of approximately 180 to 190 F; The Sylphon has a valve stem 66 seoured'thereto, the stem carrying a valve 88 which cooperates with a valve seat 10. The stem 68 also carries a'v'alve 12 which is adapted to close a port 14 at the.

end of an elbow 'I8 which in turn is connected toV a hose 'I8 leading bto the intake side of the water circulating pump I8.

Except for the interposition of the valve 88 the headers I8 and 60 are' connected by a return bend iltting 80.

The doors 48, instead of being removable. de-v scribed with reference to Figs.` l and 2, are` preferably permanently-hinged -to the rear wall of the casing 28 and are. adapted to be swung to open position and secured in open position bya bolt 82 provided with a wing nut and extending through an angle clip 84 welded or riveted to the door '48 and also through an arcuate slot 86 formed ini. a bracket 88. By tighteningthe wing nuts on the bolts 82, the doors 448 may be con- In normal use of the heater, the operator will pull the control knob 48 so as to open the butterily valve 44 and permit the flow. o'f air through the upper core section 54 and through the conperature. In view ofthe and 54 'are not at all times interconnected and as shown in Fig. 4, being connected to the lower header ill and extending upwardly into the funnel shaped upper end of a drain pipe 80. Furthermore, since the flow through the upper core 54 is restricted by the valve 6'8, pressure may be built up in the upper. tank or header 20, and for Thel thermostati'c Sylphon 62, it Willl be apparent, performs all of the functions ofthe therA mostatic valve customarily provided in the water cooling systems of internal combustion engines to control-the water temperature, since the amount of heat .withdrawn from the core I4 is much lessl than' is dissipated by the customary radiator and because the flow therethrough is restricted. by the relatively small size of the pas sageway through the elbow 'I8 and the \hose `'I-8.

Asa result, the .water circulation through'the uppercore v`54 be comparatively slow until the water attainsa temperature approaching. the

maximum allowable foneillc'ient operation of the engine.

From-the foregoing description, itwill appear that I have provided avery simple and -eilective system for the heating of the passenger come partments of-automobiles, which may be manu'- factured at a relatively'low cost, andrwhich may be installed as standard .equipment upon the ard'constructiom .y

While I have shown and described preferred automobile by departing but slightly from stand# embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent duits 30 and 3'I into the passenger compartment ,The water flowing through the upper section B4 of the radiator, at he commencement of opera-4 tion of the vehicl will not be heated to its maximum temperature', and thus the thermostatically operated valve 68 will remain closed and the Y I valve 'I2 will remain open. The water willthus be prevented' from circulating through the lower' core section i8, but instead will ow downwardly through the hose 'I8 into'the inlet of the water pump I 8. Because of the limited amount of cooling surface available in the upper core I4, the

, water in the jacket of the engine will be heated to its maximum temperature ata relatively rapid rate. As soonl as the. temperature is raised to that at which the Sylphon 821will expand, 'the valve 88 will open to permit flow of some of the water of the engine cooling system through the lower core 58 fas well as' the upper core I4.

When the temperature of the water. in the n the sections.

header 58 becomes very'high, the valve 'I2 will close, thus assuring that all ofthe water circulated by the pump- I8 will flow. throughv both cores B4 and 58.' In this way. the upper core section 54 is always maintained at a temperature to those skilled inthe art that numerous modifications and variations may be made without de parting from lthe underlying principles of the invention. 'I 'therefore ldesire by the following claims to include within the scope of my invenv tion all -such varied'- constructions bymeans of which substantially the results of my invention may be o btainedby substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim:

1. In a-heating system for 'an automobile the combination comprising, an engine water vcool ing radiator having two divided sections. connect- `ingm'eans providing `a vpassageway for the flow of water between the sections', and a thermostatically controlled valve responsive to -an in -crease in the temperature of the water in .the upper section above a predetermined value'and a by-pa'ss connecting the upper section and the water circulatingpump of the engine for controllingthe -flow of water through the connect'- ing means and from one section to the other to' increase the rate of heating of water in one of' 2. In a-heatingv system for an automobile the combination comprising, anV engine water cooling radiator having divided upper and lower sections', connecting means providing a passage for the flow-of water between the sections, means for controlling .the ilow of water through the convery nearly that of the 'water leaving the jacket of the engine, while at the same time the` f ull necting means and from lower section ,to increase the rate `o' f heating of cooling effect of both core sections 54 andiV is available whenever the engine cooling system requires the'dissipation of additional heat in orderl to maintain it at 'a satisfactory operating tem-f fact. that the' mamar cores-n4 the upper section to the now of water between the sections, and an over' ow tube communicating with the lower section andvextending upwardly to a place above the normal water level in the upper section.

4. In a heating system for an automobilethe combination comprises, an engine water cooling radiator having divided upper and lower sections,

connecting meansproviding a passage for the iiow of water between the sections, a by pass for the lower section communicating with the upper section, and a thermally' controlled valve means responsive to the temperature of the-water in the upper section for controlling the ow of water through the connecting means and bypass and to restrict the flow through the connecting means for effecting quicker heating of the water in the upper section.

5. A heating system for an automobile havin an engine compartment and a passenger compartment comprising, in combination, an engine water cooling radiator having separate upper and lowersections, means connecting said sections and including an automatic thermostatic valve responsive to an increase in the temperature of the water in the upper section above a predetermined value for controlling the flow of water through said means from one section to the other, a bypass permitting water to circulate through said upper section without passing through said lower section, means adjacent one of the sections pro-A viding an air chamber, means for conducting air from said chamber to the passenger .compartment, and means for controlling the ow of air through the air conducting means.

6. A heating system for an automobilehaving an engine compartment and a passenger compartment comprising, in combination, an engine water cooling radiatorhaving upper and lower sections, headers on said sections dividing the rafdiator into two separate cores, means on said headers connecting said sections, means for controlling the ilow of water from one of the sections to the otherto increase the. rate of heating of the water in the upper section when the temperature of the water therein Ais below a predetermined value, a bypass permitting water to circulate through said upper section without passing through said lower section, a housing adjacent the upper section and providing an air chamber, a conduit'ior conducting air from said chamber to the passenger compartment, and means for controlling the flow of air through the conduit.

7. A heating system for an automobile having an engine compartment and a passenger compartment comprising, in combination, an engine water cooling radiator having upper and lower sections separated from each other, means for connecting said sections, means for controlling the ow `of water-from one of the sections to the other to increase the rate of heating of the waterin' the upper section when the temperature of the water therein is-below a predetermined value, a bypass permitting water to circulate through said upper section without passing through said lower section, a housing adjacent theupper section and providing an air chamber, a conduit for conducting airfrom said chamber to the passenger compartment, adjustable means for controlling the iiow of air from said chamber and away from said conduit, and means for controlling the iiow of air through the'conduit.

8. A heating system for an automobile having an engine compartment and a passenger compartment comprising, in combination, an engine water cooling radiator having upper and lower sections separated vfrom each other, means connecting said sections, a bypass permitting water to circulate through said upper section withoutpassing through said lower section, means comprising a thermostatically controlled valve in said connecting means to control'the flow of ywater from one of the sections'to the other to increase the rate of heating of the water inthe upper sec-` tion when the temperature of the water therein is below a predetermined value, a housing adjacent the upper section and providing an air chamber, a conduit for conducting air from said chamber to the passenger compartment, and

means for controlling the flow of air through the conduit. y

9. In a heating system for an automobile, the

' combination comprising, an engine water cooling radiator having upper and lower sections, a conduit connecting said sections, a valve controlling the 'ow through said conduit, a bypass permitting water to circulate through one of said sectfons without passing through the other section,

a valve controlling said bypass, and means responsive to the temperature of the water in one of said sections for operating said valves in predetermined sequence.

HENRY J. DE N. MCCOLLUM. 

